Meanings of less formulaic in English

This weekend the championship is upon us in earnest - Roscommon's recent near-death experience in New York making this qualification less formulaic than usual.

Stanton's film is probably the finest work of its (admittedly nutty) kind since Avatar, and is considerably less formulaic than that much-derided movie.

Once that connection has been made, interactions between volunteers and older people can go on to become less formulaic over time, with real friendships developing.